As part of the OPEVA project funded under the EU CHIPS Act, Demo 1 explores cutting-edge advancements in battery technology to enhance energy efficiency and reliability for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy applications. This demonstrator focuses on developing a highly efficient and intelligent AC battery system, achieving breakthroughs in battery management, power electronics, and system integration.
Subtitle: The Vision Behind Demo 1
Demo 1 is designed to address critical challenges in EV energy systems, such as battery lifespan, energy conversion efficiency, and thermal management. Leveraging Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) testing, the demonstrator validates real-world performance under dynamic operating conditions. This innovative approach brings together a Battery Management System (BMS), a Multi-Level Converter (MLC), and a fault-tolerant traction inverter, forming a system.
Figure 1. Proposed Architecture
Subtitle: How It Works
At the core of Demo 1 lies a three-part system that seamlessly converts DC to AC while maintaining safety and performance:
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- Battery Section: Equipped with active balancing BMS to ensure safe operation and energy optimization.
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- MLC Slave Circuit: Enables precise activation and deactivation of battery modules for DC-to-AC conversion.
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- MLC Master Card: Communicates with the BMS to regulate system performance and ensure safe operation.
Figure 2. Demo 1 MLC and Active BMS integrated AC Battery powertrain System Battery Enclusre
Subtitle: Key Innovations and Progress
The ongoing development of Demo 1 has led to several technological breakthroughs:
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- Active BMS Integration: Uniformly balances battery cells, reducing energy losses and prolonging battery health.
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- Thermal Management System: Combines active and passive cooling methods to enhance performance and longevity.
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- High-Efficiency MLC System: Eliminates inverter losses, achieving efficiency levels over 90% during energy conversion.
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- Simulation-Driven Testing: Using tools like MATLAB Simulink and LTSpice, Demo 1 verifies circuit performance and thermal behavior under load.
Subtitle: Testing and Future Goals
Demo 1’s testing phase began with a resistive load bank to validate DC-to-AC conversion. Early results demonstrated promising trends, including improved energy efficiency and extended battery life. Future tests will focus on:
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- Dynamic operating conditions for EVs.
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- Integration with onboard chargers and DC-DC converters.
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- Driving single-phase AC motors as part of real-world applications.
By advancing these testing scopes, Demo 1 aims to validate its capabilities as a proof-of-concept within an EV energy system.
Figure 3. MLC and Active BMS Test Setup Components
Demo 1 demonstrates how innovative battery technologies and integrated power systems can pave the way for efficient and sustainable energy solutions, transforming the EV landscape.
For more information:
İrfan Güven Çömezoğlu, guven@inorobotics.com
Dilara Bayar, dilarab@acd.com.tr